Siege tower

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A siege tower (also known as a convertible tower ) was built by the besiegers of a castle or other fortification in order to overcome the opposing walls with their own troops. Siege towers were mostly multi-story wooden structures on wheels or rollers that were made by the besiegers on site. Siege towers typically measured 5 m to 15 m in length and could be up to 40 m high. They already existed in ancient times. Siege towers on ships have also come down to us around the year 1000.

Attack with siege towers

The attackers climbed onto the upper platforms of the siege tower using ladders. The top platform on which bow and crossbowmen were located was higher than the section of the wall to be attacked. Sometimes she could be missing. The level below, as the actual storm level, was laid out in such a way that one could climb over the top of the wall from here. (Hence the medieval term "Ebenhöh" for the siege tower). They were gradually brought closer to the fortress wall, whereby winches were used in the substructure of the tower , which were moved by human or animal muscle power. Rams were also often used here. Meanwhile, bow and crossbowmen fired at the crew from the upper platforms . The soldiers behind and in the siege tower were mostly protected by massive side and front walls.

Siege towers could be protected against incendiary arrows with wet skins, tanned animal skins or even just constant moistening. As happened in the siege battle off Acre in 1190, the fire-retardant coating of the three towers used was soaked in human urine due to a lack of water. These foul-smelling structures were nevertheless destroyed by the defending Muslims using sophisticated fire technology.

When the siege tower reached the opposing wall, a kind of simple drawbridge was lowered and the soldiers in the tower could storm the wall, while the riflemen on the upper platform continued to fire at the defenders. The drawbridge does not seem to have appeared until the end of the High Middle Ages; In any case, in the chronicles of Friedrich Barbarossa's campaigns in Italy, it is described as a peculiarity.

Illustrations

Defense against siege towers

The besieged had the following options for repelling an attack with siege towers:

  • A moat could keep siege towers at a distance.
  • Shooting the siege tower on fire ( falarika , incendiary arrows , fire pots )
  • Destroy siege tower with hard projectiles ( catapults )
  • turn off the pushing crew (arrows, counterattack / failure )
  • Overturn the siege tower (hidden trenches or tunnels in front of the wall)

See also

Web links

Commons : Siege Tower  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ^ Dieter Zimmerling: The German Knight Order ; Econ, Munich 1998, ISBN 3430-19959-X ; P. 22